Panasonic GX9 vs Canon M5

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 and the Canon EOS M5 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in February 2018 and September 2016. Both the GX9 and the M5 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a Four Thirds (GX9) and an APS-C (M5) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Canon provides 24 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their sensors, their features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Panasonic GX9 vs Canon M5

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Panasonic GX9 and the Canon M5. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Canon M5 is notably larger (16 percent) than the Panasonic GX9. Moreover, the M5 is markedly heavier (5 percent) than the GX9. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the GX9 nor the M5 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses
in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The GX9 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 13 percent) than the M5, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Panasonic GX9 vs Canon M5

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic GX9 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Canon M5
an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the M5 is 48 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.6. The sensor in the GX9 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the M5 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 24MP, the M5 offers a higher
resolution than the GX9 (20.2MP), but the M5 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of
3.72μm versus 3.34μm for the GX9) due to its larger sensor. However, the GX9 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 4 months) than the M5, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the GX9 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The M5 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during video recording.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS M5 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Panasonic GX9»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic GX9

Canon M5«

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

23.4

12.4

1262

77

Canon M5

Canon 77D«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

23.6

13.3

971

78

Canon 77D

Canon M6«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon M6

Canon M100«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

23.5

12.9

1272

78

Canon M100

Canon M3«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/30p

22.8

11.8

1169

72

Canon M3

Canon M10«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

22.2

11.4

753

65

Canon M10

Olympus E-PL9«»

Four Thirds

15.9

4608

3456

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Olympus E-PL9

Olympus E-M10 III«»

Four Thirds

15.9

4608

3456

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Olympus E-M10 III

Olympus PEN-F«»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

1080/60p

23.1

12.4

894

74

Olympus PEN-F

Olympus E-M10 II«»

Four Thirds

15.9

4608

3456

1080/60p

23.1

12.5

842

73

Olympus E-M10 II

Panasonic LX100 II«»

Four Thirds

16.8

4736

3552

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic LX100 II

Panasonic ZS200«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic ZS200

Panasonic G9«»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/60p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic G9

Panasonic GX85«»

Four Thirds

15.8

4592

3448

4K/30p

22.9

12.6

662

71

Panasonic GX85

Panasonic GX8«»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

23.5

12.6

806

75

Panasonic GX8

Panasonic GX7«»

Four Thirds

15.8

4592

3448

1080/60p

22.6

12.2

718

70

Panasonic GX7

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the GX9 provides a higher video resolution than the M5. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison: Panasonic GX9 vs Canon M5

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder.
However, the one in the GX9 offers a higher resolution than the one in the M5 (2760k vs 2360k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic GX9 and Canon M5 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Shutter speed (1/sec)

Shutter flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Panasonic GX9»

2760

n

3.0

1240

tilting

Y

4000

9.0

Y

Y

Panasonic GX9

Canon M5«

2360

n

3.2

1620

tilting

Y

4000

9.0

Y

n

Canon M5

Canon 77D«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

6.0

Y

n

Canon 77D

Canon M6«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

9.0

Y

n

Canon M6

Canon M100«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

6.1

Y

n

Canon M100

Canon M3«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

4.2

Y

n

Canon M3

Canon M10«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

4.6

Y

n

Canon M10

Olympus E-PL9«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

8.6

Y

Y

Olympus E-PL9

Olympus E-M10 III«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

8.6

Y

Y

Olympus E-M10 III

Olympus PEN-F«»

2360

n

3.0

1037

swivel

Y

8000

10.0

n

Y

Olympus PEN-F

Olympus E-M10 II«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

8.0

Y

Y

Olympus E-M10 II

Panasonic LX100 II«»

2764

n

3.0

1240

fixed

Y

4000

11.0

n

Y

Panasonic LX100 II

Panasonic ZS200«»

2330

n

3.0

1240

fixed

Y

2000

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic ZS200

Panasonic G9«»

3680

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

8000

20.0

n

Y

Panasonic G9

Panasonic GX85«»

2765

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

8.0

Y

Y

Panasonic GX85

Panasonic GX8«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

8000

10.0

n

Y

Panasonic GX8

Panasonic GX7«»

2760

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

8000

5.0

Y

Y

Panasonic GX7

One feature that differentiates the GX9 and the M5 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS).
The GX9 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the M5 has to rely on optical image stabilization
in OIS-equipped lenses to achieve the same effect.

The M5 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by
vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the GX9 does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed and shutter burst refer to the use of the mechanical shutter. In addition, the GX9 features
an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the GX9 and the M5 write their files to SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison: Panasonic GX9 vs Canon M5

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 and Canon EOS M5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Panasonic GX9»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic GX9

Canon M5«

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon M5

Canon 77D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon 77D

Canon M6«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon M6

Canon M100«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon M100

Canon M3«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon M3

Canon M10«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon M10

Olympus E-PL9«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Olympus E-PL9

Olympus E-M10 III«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Olympus E-M10 III

Olympus PEN-F«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Olympus PEN-F

Olympus E-M10 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Olympus E-M10 II

Panasonic LX100 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic LX100 II

Panasonic ZS200«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic ZS200

Panasonic G9«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic G9

Panasonic GX85«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic GX85

Panasonic GX8«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Panasonic GX8

Panasonic GX7«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Panasonic GX7

It is notable that the M5 has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings
by attaching an external microphone. The GX9 does not feature such a mic input.

Both the GX9 and the M5 are recent models that feature in their makers' current product line-up. The GX9 replaced the earlier Panasonic GX8, while the M5 does not have a direct predecessor.

Review summary: Panasonic GX9 vs Canon M5

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Panasonic GX9 or the Canon M5 – has the upper hand? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9:

Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.

More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2016).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the M5 is the clear winner of the contest (14 : 8 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera.

GX9 08:14 M5

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the GX9 or the M5 handle or perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews: Panasonic GX9 vs Canon M5

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The full reviews are available by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.